Third-graders take an early look into future careers

Third-graders at Belville Elementary School got a preview Friday of what it will be like if they really do choose to be a veterinarian, a firefighter, a basketball player, a stuntman or a judge.

By Ana RibeiroStaff Writer

They didn’t walk around handing out their resumes or leave the room with a job offer.But third-graders at Belville Elementary School got a little preview Friday of what it will be like if they really do choose to be a veterinarian, a firefighter, a basketball player, a stuntman or a judge. It was the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce’s first Career Day at an elementary school, and it had about 13 presenters on board.“Children are thinking what they want to be when they grow up in elementary school,” said Todd Godbey, chairman of the chamber’s education committee. Seeing these diverse presenters could play a role in the future, helping children decide what to become or discover new professions they wouldn’t have thought of, he said.Also, third grade is the year children usually start delving into who they are and into community interactions, said Godbey, a parent and publisher of the children’s newspaper Kidsville.Dr. Sheila Hanby from Leland’s Capeside Animal Hospital brought along Jack the Dalmatian, as well as the heart of a dog that died of heart worms and a cat’s fetus for show-and-tell. Jack, with his docile eyes and constantly wagging tail, lay down patiently as groups of excited children petted and examined him.“It’s been fun for me, too,” Hanby said. “They’ve asked really good questions, and they all want to be veterinarians.” Learning how long and what grades it takes to be a veterinarian, third-grader Coty Connor said it’s the career for him.Coty said he wants to “spend time with the animals and try to let them live instead of die.” He also said he’d never seen a spotted dog before. “I think it makes them have a goal and realize they can do it,” third-grade teacher Summer Springstead said of Career Day. In another room, film and TV stuntman Dale Frye showed students tricks of the trade and answered questions they asked breathlessly, along with cheering, laughing and doing fake fighting scenes. Frye told them he’s the one climbing a Ferris wheel in the scene of “The Notebook” where Ryan Gosling’s character tries to impress Rachel McAdams into going out with him. When asked who wanted to be a stuntman, many students in the class raised their hands, including a few girls like Deja Washington and boys who professed their love for action movies.“I want to be a stuntman because I want to ride motorcyles,” Deja said. One boy said he wanted to learn stuntman skills to scare his sister into being nicer. The next Career Day for third-graders is set for April 2 at Lincoln Elementary.

Ana Ribeiro: 343-2327ana.ribeiro@starnewsonline.com

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